This is another type of scraper that is used in children's rhythm bands.

Materials:

Two small blocks of pine or plywood, approximately 1" x 4" x 5" (although size
is really not important
Sandpaper (experiment with different grades of sandpaper to make different effects).
Thumbtacks
Thread spools and glue or cabinet knobs and screws

Assembly:

1. Cover one side of each block with sandpaper.
2. Fold the sandpaper over the edges and fasten it with thumbtacks. Cut the corners out
so sandpaper will fold neatly around the block (A).
3. Trim off excess.
4. Glue or screw handles to the other side of each block (B).

Playing Suggestions:

Rub the blocks together in a continuous motion for a swishing, whispering sound or bring
the blocks together in a more percussive manner for a more rhythmic effect.

1. If you want a set of bells to play a scale or tonal pattern, you will have to hand-pick
several sizes of pots and compare their relative pitches. Flowerpots of the same size can
differ by one or two scale degrees. Size and thickness determine the pitch.

2. Suspend the pots upside down from a cord attached to a broomstick or other framework.
Don't strike them too hard.

Options:

You may either tie a large knot in the cord and insert through the hole in each
pot before tying to the pole (A), or if the cord is too thin for a good-sized knot,
tie it to a small (2") section of dowel before threading though the pot hole (B).

1. Saw two 12" lengths and two 15" lengths of wood that are about 1/2" to 1" thick. Make
the frame smaller if your piece of rawhide is not large enough to accommodate the suggested
size.

2. Glue and nail drum frame together (A). Let dry.

3. Soak rawhide in cool water overnight or in lukewarm water for an hour or two.

4. Trim rawhide to shape so that both sides will be covered with enough to
wrap around and tack.

5. Tack rawhide to one side of frame, then pull skin around the box so that skin overlaps the
sides and is reasonably taut, not tight. Place a tack about every inch (B).

6. Repeat on the other side. Tack skin along edges. Cut out corners so skin will lay flat (C).

7. Let dry slowly overnight.

8. Decorate.

Drumsticks and Mallets

These sticks and mallets may be used on many percussion instruments. It is important that
the mallet be matched to the instrument so that it will feel "right" in the hand and give
the desired sound.

Materials:

Sticks
1/4" to 1/2" doweling from 8" to 12" long
Chopsticks
Tree stems

Procedure:

Hard Ends
Take about a foot of 1/2" doweling and carve a broad groove about 5/8" from the end. Sand the
ends round, wax (A).

Wooden beads drilled out to fit a 1/4" dowel or stick and glued together make good hard
mallets (B).

Cork that is carved in a round shape or old cork fishing floats fitted to a dowel or
stick are also fine beaters.

Plastic balls or spools may be glued to a stick.

Soft Ends
On about one foot of doweling wrap and wind yarn or jute twine as tight as possible
until it reaches a diameter of approximately 1". Dab the yarn end completely with white glue.
Hold for a few minutes and let dry thoroughly before using (C) (D).

Wind a strip of felt around the end of a dowel dabbing a bit of white glue as you wrap.

Small rubber balls or erasers carved a round shape and drilled out to fit on the end
of a thin dowel make good beaters.

Cork, plastic, or wooden balls glued on a dowel and covered with felt, fur, leather,
yarn, or other cloth material (such as wool) are excellent (E). The covering may be either
glued into the core or wrapped around tightly and tied just under the knob with
string or lacing (F).